Mystery as ANC leaders break routine

PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma and his deputy Cyril Ramaphosa have not yet visited a single township in Gauteng in the run-up to the ANC’s birthday celebrations this weekend.

This is unprecedented as top party leaders usually conduct door-to-door visits and hold mini-rallies in the week ahead of the January 8 rally.

Zuma, who is expected to step down in December, is scheduled to deliver his last January 8 statement on Sunday.

Party officials say he will use the occasion to inspire renewed hope in disillusioned ANC members.

His speech is expected to focus on the economy, job creation, education and how to arrest the party’s declining support after having lost key municipalities such as Johannesburg, Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay last year.

The rally will be held at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto to mark 105 years of the ANC’s existence.

As part of the build-up, the party usually hosts a series of events and mini-rallies, with ANC leaders visiting communities to mobilise support.

But Zuma had not visited any community in Gauteng by yesterday.

ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe said Zuma had apologised for not taking part in the build-up programme.

He was expected to campaign in Soweto today, despite being scheduled to host Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic President Brahim Ghali in Pretoria.

Ramaphosa has also not visited any communities.

There was some confusion yesterday when Ramaphosa’s office indicated in a statement that he would be visiting Tembisa today and Soweto tomorrow. But the statement was withdrawn. Asked to comment on Zuma and Ramaphosa’s no-show before the event, ANC national spokesman Zizi Kodwa said “there is no conspiracy about it”.

He said the two leaders had been unable to campaign due to other government programmes.

Gauteng premier Paul Mashatile said he had been campaigning in Tshwane but had to drop one activity in Atteridgeville for undisclosed reasons.

Mantashe said other ANC leaders, including treasurer-general Zweli Mkhize and deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte, had visited areas of Gauteng.

On the sidelines of the ANC’s special national executive committee (NEC) meeting in Pretoria yesterday, Mantashe said the gathering was finalising the details of the January 8 statement.

“The NEC is quite busy discussing the draft and focusing on the content, focusing on the formulation, focusing on ensuring that it speaks to the people of South Africa,” he said.

The statement would provide hope and direction to the activists and foot soldiers of the ANC, Mantashe said.